Device for moving a printed product

ABSTRACT

A device ( 1 ) for moving a book ( 2 ) with a clamping device ( 3 ) moved by a first drive ( 22, 23 ) and having two clamping jaws ( 3   a, b ) that can be displaced in a parallel to open and close the clamping device, with a gear mechanism ( 8 ) on the moving clamping device ( 3 ) that converts a rotative movement into a linear adjusting movement for the clamping jaw ( 3   a, b ) which can be displaced in parallel, with a controllable second drive ( 21 ) that is arranged stationarily, and with a permanent driving connection ( 13, 14, 15 ) between the second drive ( 21 ) and the gear mechanism ( 8 ). The second drive ( 21 ) is not arranged on the moving system, such that the clamping device ( 3 ) can be realized in a lightweight construction. Pneumatic and electric connecting lines and signalling lines ( 35   a, b ) for the second drive ( 21 ) can be permanently installed.

BACKGROUND

The present invention pertains to a device for moving a book, a boundbook block or a book block that is loosely gathered of sheets and/orfolded sections or similar printed book products.

Devices of the aforementioned type, in which the printed book product isfixed between clamping jaws, are used for feeding the printed product toa processing station or for transferring the printed product from thisprocessing station to the next processing station or for delivering theprinted product from the processing station, without the individualcomponents of the printed product such as, e.g., the sheets and/orfolded sections of an unbound book block shifting relative to oneanother such that they are no longer mutually aligned. A grippeddelivery is also beneficial with respect to the quality of a freshlybound printed product such as, e.g., a freshly cased-in and/orjoint-formed book.

EP 790 139 B1 describes a feeding device for a perfect-binding machinewith a gripper that can be pivoted back and forward about a pivotingaxis in order to transfer an unbound book block from a horizontaltransfer position into an upright position above a block clamp of theperfect-binding machine that subsequently receives the book block. Thegripper is opened and closed by means of a cogwheel mechanism that isdriven in a rotative fashion by a drive that is arranged on the gripperand makes it possible to displace the assigned clamping jaw parallel tothe other stationary clamping jaw.

DE 10 2004 006 128 A1 shows and describes a turning device, by means ofwhich books received in an upright position are taken hold of, pivotedoutward transverse to the feed transport direction and transferred intoa defined horizontal delivery position that is spaced apart from thefeed transport path in a synchronized fashion. The turning devicecomprises four grippers that jointly revolve in an intermittent fashion,wherein the grippers successively receive the books and respectivelydeliver the books after three 90° turning steps in order to return intothe receiving position with the fourth turning step. The grippers aredesigned in such a way that an inner clamping plate can be adjusted tothe format thickness and an outer clamping plate can be actuated by apneumatic cylinder in order to clamp the books.

The disadvantage of these known devices can be seen in that the drivingmeans for realizing the opening and closing movements are also moved.This increases the weight to be moved and the connecting lines arecontinuously subjected to mechanical stress. In revolving devices as itis the case with DE 10 2004 006 128 A1, a complicated rotary leadthroughfor the connecting lines is also required.

DE 102 46 077 A1 discloses a clamping device that can be turned by plus90° or minus 90° about the center line of a sheet stack accommodatedtherein. The clamping jaws are opened and closed symmetrically referredto a central plane, wherein the clamping jaws are spring-mounted onpressure pads that can be adjusted into a closed position and an openposition. For this purpose, coupling rods are used in order toeccentrically connect the pressure pads to worm gears that are connectedto and driven by endless screws such that they can be turned back andforth by 1800 between a coinciding state that is assigned to the closedposition and an extended state of the coupling rod and the worm gearthat is assigned to the open position. The endless screws can beactuated manually or in a motor-driven fashion, wherein the motor drivedoes not participate in the rotation of the clamping device. The closedposition and the open position are also secured when the endless screwsare not driven due to the self-locking worm gear pair and theaforementioned dead-center positions of the coupling rod and the wormgear.

The disadvantage of the clamping device known from DE 102 46 077 A1 canbe seen in that the clamping force exerted upon the printed product bythe clamping jaws cannot be variably adjusted. The clamping forcespecifically results from the deflection of the clamping jaw restingagainst the printed product relative to the pressure pad that isadjusted inward into a fixed position, wherein the clamping forceincreases proportionally with the product thickness. The opening andclosing of the clamping device only takes place in its rotative endpositions, in which the endless screws are connected to and driven bythe motor drive, such that the width of the opening between the clampingjaws cannot be adjusted during the rotation of the clamping device.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for moving abook, a bound book block or a book block that is loosely gathered ofsheets and/or folded sections or similar printed book products, by whichit is possible to transport the printed product quickly and flawlesslyand the spacing between the clamping jaws can be varied in a definedfashion during the return movement.

According to the present disclosure, this object is attained with a gearmechanism that is arranged on the moved clamping device and converts arotative movement into a linear adjusting movement for the at least oneclamping jaw that can be displaced in a parallel fashion, with acontrollable second, stationary drive that is arranged with a permanentdriving connection between the second drive and the conversion gearmechanism. The driving means for opening and closing the clamping jawsare not arranged on the moving system such that a particularlylightweight construction of the clamping device can be realized and theclamping device can be moved in a highly dynamic fashion. Pneumatic andelectric connecting lines and signalling lines for the second drive canbe permanently installed. The controllable second drive that ispermanently connected to the clamping device makes it possible to adjustthe at least one clamping jaw into defined open and closed positions,also during the movement of the clamping device. A holding force that isadapted to the respective printed product and ensures a particularlycareful treatment thereof can be generated in order to flawlesslytransport the printed products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The salient characteristics of the present invention are elucidated inthe following description of one preferred embodiment, with reference tothe accompanying drawing in which a single FIGURE shows a perspectiverepresentation of a pivoted gripper for the gripped transfer of a book.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the FIGURE, the pivoted gripper 1 comprise a clampingdevice in the form of a clamping gripper 3 that can be pivoted back andforth about a horizontal axis of rotation 19 a and features a left and aright clamping jaw 3 a and 3 b that can be displaced parallel to oneanother in opposite directions and centrally opened and closed in thisfashion. In this instance, the opening and closing movement 11 of theclamping jaws 3 a,b extends parallel to the axis of rotation 19 a.

The pivoted gripper 1 is able to laterally take hold of a book 2 that issupplied in a first position, in which it stands, for example, on itsfront edge (opposite the spine), as well as to turn and transfer thatbook into a second position that is offset relative to the firstposition in the form of a pivoting movement 19 by 180°, wherein thesecond position may be a working position of a not-shown processingdevice, into which the book 2 is transferred with the spine 2 a pointingdownward.

On their inner side, the clamping jaws 3 a,b feature cushions 4 that areacted upon by pressure springs that are deflected as the clamping jaws 3a,b approach the book 2 and generate a clamping force that is defined inaccordance with the deflection.

The clamping jaws 3 a,b are accommodated on holders 5 that can bedisplaced along a guide rail 6 a mounted on a pivoted console 7 by meansof linear guides 6. The pivoted console 7 is rotatively supported inbearings 17, 18 of a rack 16 and connected via a gear 23 to a firstdrive of the pivoted gripper 1 that is realize in the form of aservomotor 22 and serves for rotatively pivoting the clamping gripper 3.

The adjusting movement for opening and closing the clamping gripper 3 isrealized with a spindle gear mechanism 8 that consists of a left and aright threaded spindle 9 a and 9 b that respectively feature aleft-handed and a right-handed thread and are connected to one anotherin a driving fashion by means of a coupling sleeve 9 c, as well asassigned spindle nuts 10 that are accommodated in the holders 5 of theclamping jaws 3 a,b.

The interconnected threaded spindles 9 a,b are rotatively supported inbearings 12 a,b arranged on the pivoted console 7, wherein the rightthreaded spindle 9 b features a gear wheel 15 that meshes with a freelyrotatable gear wheel 14 supported on the pivoted console 7 in thepivoting axis 19 a, and wherein the latter gear wheel meshes with apinion gear 13 seated on the output shaft of a second drive of thepivoted gripper 1 that is realized in the form of a servomotor 21 and,according to the invention, stationarily arranged on the rack. Therespective pivoting movements of this second drive consequently displacethe clamping jaws 3 a,b relative to one another such that the clampinggripper 3 is opened and closed.

Since a relative movement between the threaded spindles 9 a,b and theoutput of the servomotor 21 occurs during the pivoting movement 19 ofthe clamping gripper 3, the permanent driving connection induces arotative movement in the threaded spindles 9 a,b via the gear wheels 13,14, 15, wherein this rotative movement causes the clamping gripper 3 toopen or close, without any rotation of the actual drive 21. Thisdisplacement can be compensated by actuating the servomotor 21accordingly.

For this purpose, the servomotor 21 is connected in a controllablefashion to the servomotor 22 by means of a controller 31. A centralcontrol unit 32 processes the respective absolute rotational positionsof both servomotors 21, 22 that are received via resolver feedbacks 35a,b in order to act upon the respective motor control 34 a or 34 b inconnection with the specified movements stored in so-called electronicplate cams such that the specified pivoting movement 19 of the pivotedgripper 1 and the mutual spacing between the clamping jaws 3 a,b areexactly observed in accordance with specifications.

In this case, the specification for the mutual spacing between theclamping jaws 3 a,b may not merely consist of the spacing remainingconstant during the pivoting movement of the clamping gripper 3 as it isrequired for generating a constant clamping force during a grippedtransport, but also of additionally opening or closing the clamping jaws3 a,b during the return movement, for example, in order to move past thewider book spine, to avoid other feeding or delivering transport meansor to provide a lateral guide for the transferred book 2 and the book tobe transferred next, respectively. Naturally, the specification alsoincludes standstill positions of the clamping gripper 3, in which theclamping jaws 3 a,b are opened or closed in order to receive or releasea book 2.

The specification is defined in a parameterized motion curve thatdecisively depends on the thickness of the book and was transferred intoa corresponding electronic plate cam 34 b with consideration of therelative movement to be compensated during the pivoting movement 19.During the gripped pivoting movement 19, the servodrive 21 may also bereadjusted in accordance with a certain driving torque such that apredetermined clamping force that needs to be maintained constant can begenerated between the clamping jaws 3 a,b or its cushions 4,respectively.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiment. The clampingdevice may also carry out a linear movement, in which case the drivingconnection is realized in the form of a toothed rack, or the clampingdevice may rotate in a revolving fashion. The clamping jaws may also berealized in the form of joint rails for taking hold of the formed joints2 b of a book 2 that are recessed relative to the outer sides of thebook.

1. A device (1) for moving a printed book product (2), comprising: aclamping device (3) including two clamping jaws (3 a, b) that arearranged parallel to one another and thereby define a variable spacewithin which to clamp the printed product (2) with a preestablishedclamping force, wherein the space between the clamping jaws (3 a, b) canbe varied by a parallel displacement of at least one clamping jaw (3 a,b) relative to the other in order to open and close the clamping device(3); a first drive (22, 23) operatively associated with the clampingdevice, whereby the clamping device is movable such that a clamped bookproduct is movable between initial and final positions; a rotative gearmechanism (8) arranged on the movable clamping device (3) and drivablefor converting rotative gear movement into a linear adjusting movementof the at least one clamping jaw (3 a, b) to achieve said paralleldisplacement; a controllable second, stationary drive (21), and apermanent driving connection (13, 14, 15) between the second drive (21)and said drivable gear mechanism (8).
 2. The device according to claim1, wherein the clamping device (3) as driven by the first drive, carriesout a pivoting movement (19) about an axis of rotation (19 a).
 3. Thedevice according to claim 2, wherein the rotative movement (19) of theclamping device (3) is realized in the form of a back and forth pivotingmovement by a defined angle.
 4. The device according to claim 2 whereinthe driving connection (13, 14, 15) extends along the axis of rotation(19 a).
 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the linear adjustingmovement or the opening and closing movement (11) of the at least oneclamping jaw (3 a, 3 b) takes place parallel to the axis of rotation (19a) of the clamping device (3).
 6. The device according to claim 1,wherein the second drive (21) is realized in the form of an electricmotor (21) that is controlled in dependence on the pivot angle.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, including a controller that controls thesecond drive (21) for driving the gear mechanism in dependence on thefirst drive (22) for moving the book product.
 8. The device according toclaim 1, wherein a displacement of the at least one clamping jaw (3 a,b) caused by the movement of the clamping device (3) is compensatedaccordingly by the second drive (21).
 9. The device according to claim1, wherein the space between the clamping jaws (3 a, b) is variablycontrolled in dependence on the position of the clamping device duringthe movement of the clamping device (3).
 10. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the space between the clamping jaws (3 a, b) isvariably controlled in accordance with a motion curve that is defined byat least one parameter.
 11. The device according to claim 10, whereinthe course of the motion curve is defined by the thickness of theprinted product (2).
 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein adefined clamping force can be generated between the clamping jaws (3 a,b) by the second drive (21).
 13. The device according to claim 1,wherein the space between the clamping jaws (3 a, b) is variablycontrolled in accordance with a predetermined clamping force.
 14. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein said rotative gear mechanism (8) isrealized in the form of a spindle gear mechanism (8) with at least onethreaded spindle (9 a, b) and an assigned spindle nut (10).
 15. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device (3) is realizedsuch that it can be opened and closed centrally referred to the product.16. The device according to claim 4, wherein the rotative movement (19)of the clamping device (3) is realized in the form of a back and forthpivoting movement by a defined angle.
 17. The device according to claim5, wherein the rotative movement (19) of the clamping device (3) isrealized in the form of a back and forth pivoting movement by a definedangle and the driving connection (13, 14, 15) extends along the axis ofrotation (19 a).
 18. The device of claim 8, wherein the clamping device(3) as driven by the first drive, carries out a pivoting movement (19)about an axis of rotation (19 a).
 19. The device of claim 6, wherein theclamping device (3) as driven by the first drive, carries out a pivotingmovement (19) about an axis of rotation (19 a); the rotative movement(19) of the clamping device (3) is realized in the form of a back andforth pivoting movement by a defined angle; the driving connection (13,14, 15) extends along the axis of rotation (19 a); and the linearadjusting movement or the opening and closing movement (11) of the atleast one clamping jaw (3 a, 3 b) takes place parallel to the axis ofrotation (19 a) of the clamping device (3).
 20. The device of claim 7,wherein the clamping device (3) as driven by the first drive, carriesout a pivoting movement (19) about an axis of rotation (19 a); therotative movement (19) of the clamping device (3) is realized in theform of a back and forth pivoting movement by a defined angle; thedriving connection (13, 14, 15) extends along the axis of rotation (19a); and the linear adjusting movement or the opening and closingmovement (11) of the at least one clamping jaw (3 a, 3 b) takes placeparallel to the axis of rotation (19 a) of the clamping device (3).